WINNIPEG, MB — The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades were unable to overcome a hot start from the Brandon University Bobcats as they fell 106-94 on Friday afternoon at the Duckworth Centre.

UFV sees their season come to an end despite outscoring Brandon 62-24 in the paint, while the Bobcats hit a season-high 22 three-pointers to keep their Canada West postseason alive. The Bobcats made 48.9 per cent from three, the third straight game they've shot better than 40 per cent from distance.

Five players scored in double figures for the Bobcats, with Jahmaal Gardner leading the way with 22 points on 9-for-15 shooting and 4-for-8 from three. He added six rebounds. Sultan Haider-Bhatti chipped in with 19 points, six rebounds and five assists; Anthony Tsegakele added 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Elisha Ampofo scored 18 points off the bench.

The Bobcats trailed briefly in the first minutes of the game, but a 21-2 run over 3:14 took a modest 6-3 deficit and gave the Bobcats a 24-8 edge. They scored 38 first-quarter points and led 61-45 at the half.

Although the Cascades trailed by as many as 25 in the game, 15 second half points from Chris Jackson helped UFV chip away and they trimmed Brandon's lead to just 88-85 with 6:08 to play. However, a 10-2 Brandon run gapped the lead sufficiently for the Bobcats to roll to a first-round playoff win and a date with the Winnipeg Wesmen Saturday (2 p.m. CT).

"The start officially was our end," noted UFV head coach Joe Enevoldson. "We were the better team for 25 minutes, but that start was something else."

"Kudos to our character and resolve to cut it back down to three, but we kind of took our foot off the gas and played them even the rest of the way. You can't do that in playoffs. You have to be dialed in for 40 minutes."

Jackson's 24 points led the Cascades. Dario Lopez added 17, Matthias Klim had 16 off the bench, Dylan Kinley added 12 and seven assists with only one turnover before fouling out, and Courtney Anderson finished with 10 points. The Cascades made seven of 23 from three and shot 51.2 per cent from the field.

"For the guys that stepped up today – the future is very very bright and we have a chance to really make some noise next year and moving forward."

The result means Friday's game will be the last of Anderson's university career as he finishes his final year of eligibility.

"For Courtney, he went out and we have closure there and he had a great career and a great year. For him to go out and play the way he has after Christmas, it's a testament to him and we will miss him for sure."